Regulator for elastic-fluid turbines



G. EGGER. REGULATOR FOR ELASTIC FLUlD TUHBINES.

APPLICAHON FILED OCT. 3. 1911. r

Patented Feb. 3,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET G. EGGER.

REGULATOR FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3, $917- 4 1,329,3 5, Patented Feb. 3,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- vcmtoz GUSTAV EGGER, OF WELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

REGULATOR FOR ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed October 3, 1917. Serial No. 194,567.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, GUs'rAv Eoonn, a citizen of Switzerland, and residing at Wells ville, in the county of .i rllegany and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Regulators for Elastic-Fluid Turbines.

An important object of the present invention is to provide for use with a turbine or other rotary engine, an improved valve governor connected to rotate in time with the rotation of the engineshaft and acting by centrifugal force to regulate instantly the flow of motive fluid to the rotor element of the turbine or other engine being itself the primary governor or regulator of the flow of driving fluid. In accordance with my invention the regulating elements of my improved governor valve which move to control the valve passage may be described as floating, 2'. (3., by reason of the fact that the regulating elements operate radially and thus in line with the centrifugal force. Thus the action of the centrifugal force is utilized to best advantage and the valve and its regulating elements are relieved of all forces or influences that would tend to cause excessive friction and binding or sticking of theparts that has prevented the proper and reliable operation of other forms of rotary centrifugal governors known to me. In accordance with a further feature of my invention the centrifugal force of the regulating elements is taken up directly by a governor spring which also exerts its action in a direction radial of the axls of rotation, whereby no levers or joints are involved and no lost motion, wear, or special requirement of lubrication is involved. A further feature of the invention consists in the combination With my improved type of centrifugal regulator of a special and improved construction of mounting for the rotor element consisting in a hollow shaft end at one side of the rotor element, arranged so that motive fluid is admitted at one end only and yet with no resultant axial thrust upon the turbine shaft. y

A. further advantage of the present type of turbine is the simple inexpensive and compact arrangement which is secured by a combination with the rotary governor valve directly with the shaft of the turbine. In cases when low manufacturlng cost is the primary object and motive fluld economy of minorimportance, both the stationary and revolving buckets may be omitted entirely and the motive fluid utilized simply in the revolvlng nozzles by pure reaction.

The invention consists of structural characteristlcs and relative arrangements of ele ments which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the two sheets of drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several figures:

Figure l, is a central longitudinal section partly in elevation of the improved turbine shown as connected to an electric generator;

Fig. 2, is a transverse section on line II II of Fig. l;

Flg. 3, is a section on line IIIIII of' Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, is an enlarged side View of a sec tion of the rotor member;

Fig. 5, is an enlarged top plan view of a section of the rotor member shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6, is an enlarged sectional View taken on line VL-V I of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings lO is the turbine casing having rotatably supported therein in a suitable roller bearing 11, an overhung rotary shaft 12 having a hollow end 13 atone end and connected at its other end to an electric generator 14, or any other apparatus to which a rapid rotary motion is to be conveyed, as a centrifugal pump or rotary fan. 15, 15 are stationary bearing covers, and 16 an oil cup and 17 oil passageway for lubricating the bearing 11, which form no essential feature of the present invention and need no further description. 18 is a revolving generator fan fixed to the shaft 12, for forcing air into and keeping cool the electric generator 14, as is common in this class of devices.

Near the outer end 13 of the hollow section. of the rotary shaft 12 is provided an enlarged portion or annular projection 19, against which abuts a collar 20, said collar being driven on or suitably fastened to the shaft 12 and made to rotate therewith' Keyed or firmly secured in any desired manner to the overhanging hollow end 13 of the shaft 12 is a combined reaction and impact wheel 21 provided with one, two or more reaction nozzles 22 near its periphery, said nozzles 22 being connected by radial pas sages 23 with registering and a corresponding number of radial openings 24 in the hollow end of the shaft 12.

The rim portion of the combined reaction and impact Wheel 21 is provided at one or more and certain sections with a series of outer impact buckets or blades 25, 25, which may be fastened to said Wheel by drilling vertical holes 26, 26, and horizontal holes 27 27, cutting the axial slots 28, 28, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 by inserting the properly shaped projecting ends 25 of the blades or buckets 25, 25, into the correspond ingly shaped slots 28 and vertical holes 26, and then driving a rivet 29, (see Fig. 1) intothe horizontal hole 27, when said buckets 25 are securely held in proper and spaced relation With respect toeach other and firmly to the outer rims of the wheel 21.

Closing the open end of the casing 10, at the opposite end from that ofthe electric generator 14, is a cylindrical shaped and hollow cover or head 30, which 1s properly centered, and securely fastened by means of bolts 31 to the open end of said casing 10. A stationary bafile plate 30 outside of shaft collar 20, and bolted to the casing 10 prevents the fiuid in the casing from entering the bearing compartment of the casing when the turbine is operated non-condensing.

Between the section of the reaction wheel 21 provided with the reaction nozzles 22 and the outer impact buckets or blades 25, are interposed a series of reversing or guide buckets 32, said buckets 32 being attached to and projecting from one of the sides of an annular member 33, securely and properly held in place to the inner side of the cover 30 by means of bolts 34, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thereby insuring the proper and fixed coiiperative relation between the nozzles 22, guide buckets 32, and impact buckets 25.

A hollow valve body or casing 35 is fixed to and rotates with the overhanging hollow end 13 of the shaft 12 by having its inner end firmly held against the outer side of the wheel 21 by means of the bolts 36, 36, passing through the casing 35, and engaging threaded openings 37, 37, in the collar 20, securely held against rotation on the rotary shaft 12 as previously described. The hollow outer end or neck 38, of the valve body or casing 35 extends into an inner or hollow cylindrical extension 39 of the cover 30, said extension 39 being formed with an annular chamber 40, which communicates with the interior of the hollow neck 38 by means of radial passages 41. Interposed between the inner wall of the hollow extension 39, and the outer side of the neck 38 are packing sections 42, to maintain a fluid-tight joint between said neck 38 and cover extension 39. An annular distance piece 43, is employed to separate the packing sections 42 directly adj acent to the radial passages 41, so that the motive fluid in the annular chamber 40 can pass quickly and unimpeded from said chamber 40 directly through the radial passages 41 into the hollow neck 38 of the valve casing 35 for purposes to be presently described.

For the purpose of taking up wear of said packing sections a ring 44, with a threaded follower 45 is employed which can be easily and quickly adjusted from without the casing 10, for the purpose clearly understood. A screw plug 46, is employed to close the opening on the outer end of the valve casing neck 38, which is left in the casting operatlon.

The annular motive fluid chamber 40 is in communication with the source of the motive fluid by means of a passage 47, formed within the casing cover on head 30, and connects said chamber 40 with the motive fluid supply pipe 48, as shown.

Within the rotating valve body or casing 35 are formed Valve seats 49 on which seats a balanced puppet valve 50, preferably made integral with its stem 51 extending in both directions through the casing 35 and guided by suitable bushings 52, 52, said bushings being held in position by bolts 53, as shown. One of the ends of the valve stem 51 is reacted upon by a coil spring 54, compressed between the outer side of the adjacent bushing 52 and the underside of an adjustable nut 55 engaging threads on the outer end of the stem 51, while the other or opposite end of the stem 51, is provided with an adjustable governor weight 56 engaging threads on its corresponding valve stem end. 57, 57 are lock nuts for locking spring 54, and governor weight 56 in their adjusted positions and prevent their displacement when rapidly revolved during the operation of the turbine.

58 is a small passage or groove cut in the inner end of each of the bushings 52, and arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of the valve stem 51, in the same plane of rotation, said passages 58 also being made to communicate with the interior of the valve body or casing 35, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

59 is a branch of the turbine casing 10, forming the exhaust passage and provided with a strainer 60, at its outlet, to prevent dirt and foreign matter from entering the turbine casing. 61 is a drain opening at the bottom of the casing 10 for the purpose of removing any water of condensation, oil or other accumulated matter.

The operation of the invent-ion is as follows:

The motive fluid supply having been ad mitted to the pipe 48, it passes by means of the pipe 48, passage 47, radial ports 41 into hollow neck 38, from whence it is led into the'hollow valve body orcasing 35 and thence through the governor valve 50 and its seats 49 into the chamber within the hollow overhung section 13 of the rotary shaft 12, after which the motive fluid flows from the chamber within the hollow section 13 by means of radial openings 24:, and passages 28 to the reaction nozzles 22 near the periphery of the combined reaction and impact wheel 21. The motive fluid in passing through and rapidly issuing from the nozzles 22, expands down to atmospheric pressure and in so doing reacts upon the wheel 21, rotates the same with its connected shaft 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. After the motive fluid leaves the revolvingnozzles 22, it passes through the stationary guide or reversing buckets 32, whereby its direction of movement is reversed and in proper relation to act by impulse upon the revolving impact buckets or blades 25, rotating with the wheel 21, and thereby adding further energy to the shaft 12.

The motive fluid, after the impact buckets or blades 25, passes into the exhaust passageway 59 and through the strainer to atmosphere or to any suitable form of condenser, if so desired.

hen the shaft 12, is rapidly rotated by the operation of the motive fluid actin upon the several parts as above indicate the centrifugal force acts on the governor weight 56 and its stem v51 and tends to close the valve 50 on its seats 49 against the action of the spring 54 and hence regulates the supply of the motive fluid in such a manner as to make the rotary speed of the wheel 21 and its connected shaft 12 constantly independent of the load or resistance applied to the rotation of said shaft 12, and thereby insures the proper and efficient operation of the turbine under all conditions for which it has been designed.

The friction between the valve stem 51 and its bushings 52, is reduced by an unbalanced pressure acting upon the stem 51 in each of the passages or grooves 58 (Fig. 2), which pressure tends to move the ends of the stem in the direction of rotation of the bushings 52, and against a force resulting from the windage acting in the opposite direction, thereby reducing the friction between the stem 51 and its bushings 52 to a minimum, and have the stem float in its bushings at the normal rotary speed--for which the turbine is designed to operate. This action insures a most sensitive and proper regulation of the motive fluid to the rotor and stator elements of the turbine.

From the foregoing disclosure of construction, and relation of the several parts, and mode of operation of the invention, it will readily be seen that all the objects and advantages set up in the statement of inflowing through vention are fully carriedout and that the turbine and governor embody clearlya selfcontained and unitary structure, each clearly cooperatingwith and properly influence the operation of the other. All the turbine and governing mechanism are within a single housing or casing, dustproof and comprise a minimum of parts. The governor is substantially within and forms a movingpart of the turbine at all times and no compli cated gear or other elements are used to connect the governor mechanism with the valve controlling the distribution of the motive fluid, thus doing away not only with the manufacture, installation, and adjustment of many parts, but at the same time avoiding the overcoming of the inertia of moving parts which is'always'present when a train of mechanism, consisting of levers, cranks and other elements, is interposed between the valve and governor mechanism.

Furthermore, the governor valve is approximately within and forms a part of the rotor element of the turbine and hence the motive fluid travels a minimum distance from the controlled or regulated point to the part of the turbine element where its energy is utilized, thereby effecting not only an instantaneousregulation of the motor, but at the same time a minimum loss in the motive fluid due to radiation, condensation, or wire drawing of said fluid.

WVhile I have shown and combined with the governor a reaction wheel having iinpact buckets attached thereto, and several nozzles for said reaction wheel, I do not limit myself to this specific arrangement, as my invention is capable of use with only a reaction wheel having one nozzle and no im pact buckets, or only impact buckets, and the governor construction may be applied to any of the several modifications, if so desired without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine equipped with a rotor and with means for supplying motive fluid thereto through an axial conduit, comprising a centrifugally governed regulatingvalve device located approximately at the axis of rotation of said rotor to control the axial passage thereto, the line of movement due to centrifugal force acting on said valve device being in a direction substantially radial of the axis of said rotor.

2. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine equipped with a. rotor and with means for supplying driving fluid thereto,comprising a centrifugal governor mounted to control an inlet passage through a hollow end of said rotor and disposed for movement in a direction substantially radial of the axis of the rotor.

3. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid engine equipped with a rotor and with means for supplying motive fluid axially thereof, comprising a single centrifugal regulator for the entire supply of motive fluid mounted to operate with a line of movement due to centrifugal force substantially radial of the axis of rotation and extending across such axis with a resilient means opposing the action of such centrifugal force also operative in a direction radial of the axis of rotation.

4. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid engine equipped with a rotor and with means for supplying motive fluid through a hollow end thereof, comprising a regulating valve for controlling the supply of motive fluid, equipped with a centrifugal governor, the line of movement of said governor in acting on said valve being in a direction substantially radial of the axis of the said rotor, said valve having a stem extending across said axis and guided at both sides thereof.

5. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid engine, equipped with a rotor and with means for supplying driving fluid thereto, comprising a regulator arranged for controlling the flow of driving fluid, mounted to turn with the said rotor and having a centrifugal element radially disposed and intersecting the axis of the rotor and with a swing engaged therewith, tending normally to move said regulator to open position.

(5. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine equipped with means for supplying motive fluid through a hollow rotor end, comprising a single regulator for the flow of the motive fluid mounted to revolve with said rotor consisting in a valve located approximately at the rotor axis and in said hollow rotor end, having a centrifugal element and a spring element acting thereon both in a direction substantially radial of the axis of rotation, said spring element tending to keep said valve open and said centrifugal element to close the same.

7. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine equipped with a rotor comprismg a single regulator for the entire flow of motive fluid thereto, consisting in a valve mounted toturn with said rotor, and carried by a stem extending radially of the axis of rotation, with a centrifugal member acting on one end thereof at one side of said axis and a spring with a tension adjustment acting on the other end of said stem at the opposite side of said axis to oppose the action of said centrifugal member and normally holding said valve open.

8. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine equipped with a rotor having a hollow end constituting an axial inlet, comprising a single regulator for the entire flow of motive fluid thereto, consisting in a valve mounted in said hollow rotor end and carried by a stem extending radially of the axis of rotation with an adjustable centrifugal member acting on one end thereof and a spring with a tension adjustment acting on the other end of said stem to oppose the action of said centrifugal member and normally holding said valve open.

9. Governor mechanism for an elastic fluid turbine equipped with a rotating reaction element and with fluid passages to a plurality of peripheral points, comprising a single regulator mounted and arranged to control the entire flow of motive fluid to all of the said peripheral points equipped with a centrifugal governing device having an axis of endwise movement substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rotating element.

In testimony whereof,I affix my signature.

GUSTAV EGGER. 

